Every year gigatons of leaves grow, producing Oxygen as they take in CO2 and sequester Carbon.

Then they mature and fall to the ground to rot.

The leaves are decomposed by bacteria using Oxygen to consume this Biomatter, returning to the air as much CO2 as the leaves took in.

The same goes for grasses and other ephemeral plant matter.

This represents a considerable amount of untapped Biomass that can be used to fuel humanity, instead of rotting on the ground and producing CO2 anyway.

Leif says, "only a few % of all leaves would make a huge difference for charities and the atmosphere"

Coal vs Biomass

Smoke from leaves contains less sulphur, uranium, and other emissions than smoke from fossil coal.

The power plant does not need to be replaced, only the fuel.

Fossil fuels may be stored as a backup, but Biomass should be used first.

Leaves should be harvested while dry and kept dry to fully benefit from free solar energy.

The minerals in the ash or the biochar must be returned to the growing areas.

Leaves do not compete with food production.

As the demand for leaves increases, more heavy branch-bearing trees will be planted (motivation$).

"Turning a waste into an asset"

If we steal "wasted" energy from current ecosystems, we can avoid expending fossil fuels, and produce less CO2 while preserving valuable infrastructure ("Coal power plants" become "Leaf power plants").